Pet Pig Health: Vaccinations, Vet Care and Common Problems

Pigs need a vet who is used to them, and in some places there are legal wrinkles about even getting a pig to the surgery. This guide sets out what animal welfare guidance says about pet pig health, and is clear about the topics it doesn't cover.

Find a pig vet before you get the pigs

The RSPCA advises regular checks from a vet to make sure your pigs are in good health. Ask whether a practice treats pigs at all, and whether they will visit, before you buy. This is our suggestion rather than a published rule, but the transport rules below make it far easier if your vet can come to you. (RSPCA, caring for pet pigs.)

Vaccination and parasites

The RSPCA says: “you should get your pigs vaccinated against diseases such as Erysipelas (every six months), Parvovirus, Escherichia coli, Clostridial infection and various parasitic agents, such as mange, lungworm and lice.” Mange, lungworm and lice are parasites rather than bacterial or viral diseases, so ask your vet what treatment or prevention they recommend for them. What your pigs actually need depends on their age, history and where you live, so let your vet set the programme.

Common problems

The RSPCA's care page mentions conditions including dry scaly skin, arthritis and lameness, and inverted eyelids in pot-bellied pigs. It says pigs need exercise to help prevent obesity, constipation and overgrown feet, and that they should be fed a balanced diet of commercially prepared pig food suitable for their age and breed. It is illegal to feed waste food to pigs, including meat, bones, blood, offal or other parts of an animal; see can you feed kitchen scraps to pigs?and how much does a pig eat?.

Getting a pig to the vet

This is the part that surprises new UK keepers. The RSPCA says you need a licence to move pigs to other premises (except to a slaughterhouse), and that this includes pet pigs being moved to the vet's surgery. After a movement you then can't move them again for at least 20 days. It also says it is illegal to transport pet pigs in any vehicle that hasn't been properly constructed to carry them, and this includes a car. GOV.UK says you must report any movement using the electronic animal movement licensing service (eAML2). Given all this, a vet who will visit is worth a lot. See our legal guide for registration. (RSPCA, laws on keeping pigs; GOV.UK.)

Worming, hooves, tusks and neutering

The RSPCA pages we read don't cover these, but Every Pig Rescue Service, a UK pet-pig charity, does. It says pigs should be wormed regularly, usually every six months, without naming products, so ask your vet what to use. For hooves, it says some pigs need trimming regularly and others never do; you can do it yourself with good clippers and a willing helper with rewarding treats, or enlist an experienced vet, with sedation a last resort for difficult pigs. It says it is more common in the UK to neuter boars, and that castration can help with introductions between males. It does not address tusks (Every Pig Rescue Service, healthcare).

For a second, US veterinary view, VCA Animal Hospitals says some pigs need hoof trimming every few months depending on the surface they walk on; tusks of unneutered males may need trimming every 6 to 12 months and neutered males every 1 to 3 years; and it recommends an annual faecal check for gastrointestinal parasites, treating if found, rather than a fixed worming interval (VCA, veterinary care for mini-pigs). The UK charity and the US hospital group differ on worming, which is a good reason to let your own vet set the schedule.

The charity lists signs of illness to act on: loss of appetite, excessive thirst, lethargy, vomiting, problems moving or walking, and skin, hoof, mouth or ear problems. For light-skinned pigs it suggests sunblock, and it also describes pig oil rubs for skin care. Neither source is a substitute for a vet who knows your animals.

Hooves and tusks: what the sources leave out

None of the sources gives a single schedule that suits every pig, which is why we haven't published one. Routine hoof and tusk trimming appears in the vet costs in our cost guide, and a vet can tell you how often your pigs need it.

What it costs

Our cost guide cites $200–500 a year for routine care including checkups, vaccinations and hoof and tusk trimming, from a US source; we couldn't find a current UK figure. Put your own vet's quote into the cost of keeping calculator.

Sources: Every Pig Rescue Service, “Healthcare”; VCA Animal Hospitals, “Veterinary care for mini-pigs” (US); RSPCA, “Caring for pet pigs” and “Laws on keeping pigs”; GOV.UK, “Keeping a pet pig or micropig”. Sources checked: September 2026. General information, not veterinary advice.

Common questions

What vaccinations do pet pigs need?

The RSPCA says you should get your pigs vaccinated against diseases such as erysipelas (every six months), parvovirus, Escherichia coli, clostridial infection and various parasitic agents, such as mange, lungworm and lice. Which ones your pigs need depends on their circumstances, so ask your vet.

How often should a pet pig see a vet?

The RSPCA advises regular checks from a vet to make sure your pigs are in good health. It doesn't give a fixed schedule, so agree one with your own vet.

Can I take my pig to the vet in the car?

Not in an ordinary car. The RSPCA says it is illegal to transport pet pigs in any vehicle that hasn't been properly constructed to carry them, and that includes a car. Moving a pig to a vet's surgery is also a movement that needs a licence in the UK.

What health problems are common in pet pigs?

The RSPCA's care page mentions conditions such as dry scaly skin, arthritis and lameness, and inverted eyelids in pot-bellied pigs, and says exercise helps prevent obesity, constipation and overgrown feet.

How often do pet pigs need worming?

Every Pig Rescue Service says pigs should be wormed regularly, usually every six months, while a US veterinary group (VCA) recommends an annual faecal check and treatment if parasites are found. The two differ, so let your vet set the schedule.

How often do pig hooves and tusks need trimming?

It varies. Every Pig Rescue Service says some pigs need their hooves trimmed regularly and others never do. VCA, a US veterinary group, says some pigs need it every few months depending on the surface they walk on, and gives tusk trimming as every 6 to 12 months for unneutered males and every 1 to 3 years for neutered males.